Shuttle change loom



Nov. 24, 1936.y C. D. BROWN SHUTTLE CHANGE LOOM Filed 0G12. l0, 1934. 2 Sheetsfsheef, 1

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` `ATT'oRNEYv Nov. 24, 1936. 4c. D. BROWN SHUTTLE CHANGE LooM Filed 0G11. l0, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. CA/ez. D. 550W/v.

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CLM/TON JT Coen/EN,

ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 24, 1936 antigas? SHUTTLE CHANGE LOOM Carl D. Brown, Hopedale, Mass., assignor to Draper Corporation, Hopedale, Mass., a corporation of Maine Application October 10, 1934, Serial No. `'747,754

6 Claims.

, The present invention pertains to shuttle changing looms, and has more particular reference to construction alfecting the handling of the incoming filling ends. l' Shuttle changing looms of the type to which my invention relates commonly include a lay having a shuttle box comprised of movable box plates, a shuttle magazine in front of the shuttle box, and means for transferring a fresh shut- 10 tl-e from the magazine to the shuttle box and vejecting the old shuttle. The shuttles in the magazine are threaded and projecting ends of the filling thread are attached to the magazine. After a transfer occurs the filling end extends from the shuttle .in the shuttle box to the magazine.

Prior constructions have had various obstructions on th-e front of the shuttle box which prevented the incoming, or magazine attached, lilling end from -moving laterally out of the shuttle box.. lAccordingly, after the newly transferred shuttle was picked the incoming end extended from the magazine, through the shuttle box .and

thence into the shed. Rearward vmovement of the lay at such time served to pull on .the incoming end, thus placing too much tension on the rst pick, or breaking it. Furthermore, such ends were diicult to remove from the shuttle box after the cutting instrumentalities had operat-ed, and .the .out or `broken ends were often dragged into .the shed, thus `causing a defect in the cloth.

g The rprincipal object of 4the present invention `is to provide, vin a loom of the type above mentioned, `a shuttle box ,and box .plate moving instrumentalities which are .so constructed `as to provide an unobstructed path vfor the exit of the incoming filling end from the front of th-e shuttle box.

4 other objects of the invention will become apparent as the vdescription proceeds.

In attaining the aforementioned object I have provided a shuttle box including vfront and rear box plates supported for rising movements to permit Vthe change vof shuttles. The front box plate is spaced above the lay, whereby the incoming end can move forwardly out of the shuttle boxby passing beneath the front box plate. 50 The box plates are supported by devices positioned Jabove ,and to `the rear of the lower edge `of the front box plate. Finally, the box plate operating arm is of such shape and is so positioned that `it cannot interfere with the filling 55 end.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated on the accompanying drawings, of

which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view ofone corner of the loom containing the said preferred embodiment of the 5- invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation of the lay and shuttle .box of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view, taken approxlmatelyon line 3-3 of Fig. l; .and 10 Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the parts ata later stage in their operating cycle.

The loom shown on the drawings includes a frame comprised of loom sides, as l, and a breast 1; beam. .A reciprocating lay 3 is carried by lay 15 swords,vof which only the right hand sword 4 is shown. The lay reciprocates toward and from -the front of the loom which is at the right side of Fig. 3. A lshuttle 5, Fig. 1, is adapted to be picked along the lay in the usual manner and 2b to be received at each end of the lay ina shuttle box .carried thereby. Only the right handshuttle box is shown -on the drawings.l This shuttle -box includes a floor 6, front and rear box vplates 5 1 and 8, respectively, andV a top guide plate 9. 25 The shuttle box is closed at its outer end, and opens yinwardly of the loom, which is toward the shed S.

The loom shown being 4of the shuttle changing variety, a shuttle ymagazine-lll containing spare 30 shuttles 5', 5', is positioned in front ofthe shuttle box. Themagazine is preferably supported from the loom frame. Means are also provided for automatically transferring a shuttle from the magazine to the shuttle box and ejecting the old 35 shuttle therefrom. The particular shuttle transferring means shown is comprised Aof `an automatically actuated slide H which operates when the lay is atabout front center to force the bottom shuttle li rearwardly, into the shuttle box. In .the present embodiment the incoming shuttle 'engages the spent shuttle and forces it out through vthe rear of the shuttle box.

The parts as thus far described may be identical with those described in patent to Lindsjo, No. 1,850,304, granted March 22, ,1932. These and other parts or mechanisms .of the loom which are not herein disclosed may be of any Asuitable -usual construction. It will be noted that in the above and other constructions the change of shuttles cannot be effected without at least-one of the box plates being moved from its normal position. It will also be noted that immediately after the change of shuttles the incoming lling end I2 extends from the shuttle in the shuttle box to a holding stud I3 on the magazine, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1. The picking of the newly inserted shuttle lays a pick of filling in the shed, while the end thereof remains attached to the stud I3. In prior looms of this type the front box plate and other parts were so constructed as to engage the incoming end and pull on it as the lay moved rearwardly, some such looms even having the front of the shuttle box entirely closed.

I find that most of the improperly tensioned first picks, whipped in ends, and broken filling on the first pick, are attributable solely to the pull on the filling by the front box plate or other parts, as just described. My invention consists in such discovery, and in a design or construction of shuttle changing loom wherein the front and rear box plates are supported for rising movement (to permit the change to occur) and wherein the box plate supporting and actuating instrumentalities provi-de a path for the ready exit of the incoming end from the front of the shuttle box.

In the specific embodiment shown on the drawings, the front box plate 'I is bolted to and supported by two supporting arms I4, I4. The arms are pivoted at their rearward ends on a rod I5. The rod is supported at the back of the lay whereby the front box plate is pivotally supported at the rear of the lay. The lower edge I6 of the front box plate is spaced above the lay, as is more clearly shown in Fig. 3, whereby the front of the shuttle box is open in the sense that there is a considerable space (between the lay and box plate) through which the filling is free to pass.

The back box plate 8 is supported at its outer end by an arm I1 the forward end of which is pivoted on a bolt I8 at the front of the lay. This support is outwardly of any possible position of the incoming end I2 and the bracket I8' which supports the bolt I8 m-ay be iixed to the front of the lay. The inner end of the back box plate is secured to and supported by an arm I9 which is pivoted at its forward end on a bolt 20. The bolt 20 and bolt I8 are in axial alignment, whereby the back box plate is pivotally supported at the front of the lay.

The back box plate is normally held down by a spring 2I coiled about the bolt 2B. The front box plate is conveniently held down by the back box plate, as by means of a stop screw 2?. in the arm I9.

It will be note-d that the supporting means I9, 20 for the back box plate are entirely above the aforementioned path for the exit of the incoming filling end. In accordance with the present invention, a bracket 23 may be bolted to the sword 4 and extend forwardly therefrom above the shuttle box. A second bracket 24 is carried by the first bracket and this second bracket extends forwardly and downwardly to receive and support the bolt 2S. By this means, the supporting brackets for the pivot bolt are kept entirely above, and consequently out of, the thread path.

Means for operating the box plates at the time of changing of shuttles may be variously contrived. In the present construction a lifter arm 25, which is rigid with the arm I9, extends downwardly and forwardly from the pivot bolt 20 (see Fig. 3). When the lay is at front center the arm 25 extends across the path for exit of the filling end, but the forward inclination of this arm allows the same to clear the filling end as the lay moves rearwardly, as will be apparent from Fig. 4.

There is shown on Fig. 3, a change shaft 26 having an upwardly extending arm 2l xed thereto, a trip 28 being pivoted to the upper end of the arm. rIhe purpose of the arm and trip is to engage the lifter arm when change of shuttles is called, thus lifting the back box plate and freeing the front box plate from the pressure of hold ldown screw 22.

The present invention is used commercially in the form herein disclosed in detail, and in such form is found to entirely eliminate all such broken first picks, whipped in ends and improperly tensioned first picks as were due, in prior constructions, to the inability of the incoming filling end to escape from the shuttle box.

Having fully disclosed the preferred embodiment of my invention, I claim:

l. In an automatic loom, a lay, a shuttle box comprising front and rear box plates separately supported for rising movement relative to the lay, the entire lower edge of said front box plate being spaced above the lay, a stationary shuttle magazine mounted in front of said shuttle box, means for transferring a shuttle rearwardly from said magazine into said shuttle box between said box plates, and supporting means for said box plates providing an unobstructed path for the lateral exit from the front of said shuttle box of a filling end extending from said magazine through the shuttle box and into the shed.

2. In an automatic loom, shuttle changing mechanism comprising, in combination, a lay, a shuttle box having a front box plate pivotally supported at the rear of the lay and positioned entirely above the latter, a rear box plate, and outer and inn-er brackets pivotally supporting said rear box plate at the front of the lay, said inner bracket extending from above the shuttle box forwardly and terminating above the lay to thereby provide an unobstructed path between the bracket and lay for the exit of filling ends from said shuttle box.

3. In an automatic loom, shuttle changing mechanism comprising, in combination, a lay, a shuttle box having a front box plate pivotally supported at the rear of the lay, a rear box plate, a stationary shuttle magazine supported in front of said shuttle box, meansvfor transferring a shuttle from said magazine to said shuttle box, there being a free space beneath said front box plate whereby the front of said shuttle box is open for the exit of filling ends therefrom, and means including a bracket positioned entirely above said space at the inner end of said shuttle box for pivotally supporting said rear box plate at the front of the lay.

4. In an automatic loom, a lay, a shuttle box comprising front and rear box plates supported for rising movement relative to the lay, a stationary shuttle magazine mounted in front of said shuttle box, means for transferring a shuttle from said magazine to said shuttle box, supporting means for said box plates providing an unobstructed path for the lateral exit from the front of said shuttle box of a filling end extending from said magazine through the shuttle box and into the shed, and a box plate lifter arm extending downwardly in front of said path, said lifter arm being inclined downwardly and forwardly so as to clear said filling end as the lay moves rearwardly.

5. In an automatic loom, shuttle changing mechanism comprising, in combination, a lay, a shuttle box having front and rear box plates supported for rising movement relative to the lay, the lower edge of said front box plate being spaced entirely above the lay to thereby provide an unobstructed path for the exit of filling ends laterally from said shuttle box, means including outer and inner brackets for supporting said rear box plate at the front of the lay, said inner bracket being positioned entirely above said path, and a box plate lifter arm extending downwardly in front of said path, said lifter arm being inclined downwardly and forwardly so as to clear said iilling ends as the lay moves rearwardly.

6. In an automatic loom, shuttle changing mechanism comprising, in combination, a lay, a shuttle box having a front box plate pivotally supported at the rear of the lay and spaced entirely above the lay to provide a path for the exit of lling ends forwardly from the shuttle box, a rear box plate, outer and inner brackets for pivotally supporting said rear box plate at the front of the lay, said inner bracket being entirely above said path so as not to obstruct the same, and a box plate lifter arm which extends across said path but which is inclined downwardly and forwardly so as to clear said lling ends as the lay moves rearwardly.

CARL D. BROWN. 

